All British travellers arriving in the United States will be fingerprinted and photographed from tomorrow.

Until now, the procedure applied only to visa holders, but Homeland Security officials decided to expand the programme.

It means even travellers arriving under the visa waiver programme will have their digital photographs taken and fingerprints scanned.

The new policy affects people from 22 countries, including Britain, who are able to travel to the US without a visa for less than three months, provided they are not seeking work.

Britons, and other foreign nationals travelling under the visa waiver programme, will now be screened when they arrive at the 115 major airports and 14 major seaports in the US.

The Association of British Travel Agents raised concerns that the policy could result in even longer immigration queues at US airports, but a spokeswoman in London said: "We think it will probably enhance the safety for travellers to the US."